How About Hanging Out with God?

You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. Deut. 4:35

…so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. I Kings 8:60

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. Isaiah 43:10

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7

But whoever loves God is known by God. I Corinthians 8:3

But now that youknowGod—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Doyou wish to be enslaved by them all over again? Gal. 4:9

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Eph. 1:17

They claim to knowGod, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:16

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. I John 3:24

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. I John 4:7

NIV

In a recent small group Bible study, a young person new to the faith pointed a question directly at me, “what is the purpose of life?” Without going into a deep, theological study of the subject, my quick response was simple: “to intimately know Him.” Now I didn’t have time to elaborate as the facilitator turned the meeting toward a different direction. However, if I did, my response might have gone something like this.

First we would view a few scriptures like those above. In addition we might speak how Paul wrote in Romans that even unbelievers can know God through creation. That creation is a reflection of who God is just like a craftsman’s work is a reflection of himself. In fact, everything God created or instituted portrays who He IS.

For example, the institution of marriage between a man and woman gives us a sample taste of the relationship God has with himself as Father-Son-Spirit. When we follow God’s instructions of marriage as defined through properly understood Scripture, we get a taste of God’s attributes. When we rear a family with children, we get a taste of how God views us. Again, through a proper understanding of Scripture we experience the abundant joy that family brings. In our careers, we come to learn more who God IS. As we transfer the talent we possess (gifts given to us from our Creator that are a sample taste of who he is) into serving others for the greater good, we experience the creativity and imagination and order that God naturally shares with us.

Everything in this life is designed for us to come and discover more of who God IS. As we lean on Him through the trials and tests and challenges that Life throws at us, we learn to trust Him. From this trust, a personal relationship is developed. Like a well-tempered child in the arms of a gracious grandfather, a special relationship is developed.

Sometimes the challenge of walking with Him becomes strained because we become memorized by all the glitz and take our eyes off of the center. We focus on the leaves and branches instead of the trunk of the tree. We want God’s power, his gifts, his favor, and his blessings, but neglect the relationship. We want all of the benefits of knowing Him without investing the time to truly come and KNOW HIM.

Like the intimate relationship between a loving husband and wife, the strong friendship that is closer than a brother or sister, or the sweet, infatuation, secret love yearning to become known, the personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit is greater than all of these combined.

When you truly become known by Him and know Him as He IS, and begin to hang out with HIM more and more each day, you will find the human experience greatly enhanced as HIS blessings, grace, and love pours out from Him through you and into the lives of others. Everything that you want from this life begins when you come to know Jesus who bridges every gap known by man. He will intercede for you, teach you, and equip you for greater service.